Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead landscape

Photo: Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead

~2 days · 21.1 mi · moderate · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance21.1 mi
Days out2
Elevation gain3,750 ft
Gain / mile178 ft
High point11,795 ft
Difficulty index21/100

What the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead is known for

Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead on the Colorado Trail: a 2-day point-to-point section of about 21.4 miles from Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead (Durango terminus). Final descent through the San Juan National Forest ending at Durango's Junction Creek — the southern terminus of the Colorado Trail.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 23,012 ft to 38,589 ft over 21.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 4.0 mi · 19%
  • Downhill 15.5 mi · 74%
  • Flat 1.5 mi · 7%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

How hard is the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead?

21 / 100

On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead scores 21/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.

Frequently asked questions

How many days does the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead take?

Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 21.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead?

The Colorado Trail — Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead climbs roughly 3,750 ft total — about 178 ft per mile, topping out near 11,795 ft.

Related trails

Sources & attribution

Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.

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